Though all the three technologies empowers corporate sector to help professionals access their networks remotely. However there are some conceptual differences amongst the three technologies you should know.
Before we start, let us quickly define in a few words what are VPN, RDS & VDI.
- V.P.N. - The first, virtual private network enables any remote desktop/laptop device to securely access a network with the help of an internet connection.
- R.D.S. - Secondly, remote desktop services, a Microsoft solution allows computing devices to remotely access a centralized server using one single virtual desktop experience.
- V.D.I.- The third, virtual desktop infrastructure also empowers remote computing devices to access a centralized server. This technology empowers the user with personalized user experience through virtual machines on the server.
5 differences between VPN,RDS and VDI
(a) User experience/ Interface
Virtual Private Network - The remote user gets personalized experience because he uses applications on his desktop. The applications interact with the central network. The user experience is personalized.
Remote Desktop Services - The user remotely accesses the central server. So the user experience of all the users is same as the server. User does not get personalized experience
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - Through virtual desktop experience is personalized. The virtual desktop creates operating system experience same as the client.
(b) Unit economics
Virtual Private Network - V.P.N. networks are recommended for small and medium businesses. However a lot of large businesses also use VPN.
Remote Desktop Services - Remote desktop services are best recommended with medium and large enterprise that use heavy weight applications.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - VDI infrastructure is a slightly complicated affair. It is best for the large businesses that want to cut the cost of client side infrastructure
(c) Maintenance
Virtual Private Network - The client normally installs a VPN application. The network is established on authentication and it is done. Lowest on the maintenance part.
Remote Desktop Services - Relatively higher maintenance. However, with less machines comes less patching and maintenance.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - Very high maintenance. The software and hardware application make the infrastructure complicated.
(d) Performance
Virtual Private Network - The performance is always dependant on the user hardware. Same transactions take more data transmission in VPN.
Remote Desktop Services - In all the three, remote desktop services fall between the VPN and VDI.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - Because of the compartments of resources Virtual Desktop Infrastructure guarantees the fastest user experience.
(e) Security
Virtual Private Network - The process of data encryption secures the data while it is traveling through the network
Remote Desktop Services - RDS does only allow the data to remain on the server. The user machine does not store anything. Hence, even if the user machine is lost or goes in wrong hands etc , the data is never lost.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - exactly similar to RDS, VDI also stores all applications, and data on its centralized server. Hence, even if the user machine is lost the data is never lost.
In Conclusion: The remote access industry is growing at a very fast pace. The three segments of remote namely VPN, RDS and VDI have similar application. Consequently, the remote access usage, number of users, the centralized server etc are the factors that help us identify which solution is the best for which corporate.